Website Success

From Pre-Planning To Post-Launch

Phase One

Pre-Project Planning

Know What You Want

Make a Wishlist

Identify Your Problems

  • Questions asked repeatedly that take up your time
  • Processes that are inefficient
  • Common tasks that can be done electronically
  • Important or helpful information not available online

Turn These into Requirements

  • A page of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • Online ordering
  • An online reservation form
  • Site content with important information

Be Realistic

If you set up unrealistic expectations,
you will still get reality-based results.

Be Realistic

  • Create a timeline
  • Set a budget
  • Build a list of requirements
  • Remain flexible

Consider an RFP
(Request for Proposal)

A document used to elicit bids from potential vendors for project.

RFP

  • Intro / Project Overview / Company Overview
  • Your Audience
  • New Website Objectives / Current Website
  • New Website Functionality Requirements
  • Budget Details
  • Proposal Requirements
  • RFP & Project Timeline Details

Vital Design

Writing a Website Design RFP? Read This Comprehensive Guide First (w/Bonus RFP Template)

Phase Two

Choosing your technology and team

How Complex is Your Site?

The size and complexity of your site will dictate the technology it needs.

Example One

Simple

  • Content Pages: About, Hours and Location, Contact, etc.
  • Contact Form
  • Newsletter Signup

Example Two

Medium

  • Content Pages
  • Contact Form
  • Newsletter Signup
  • News/Events
  • Photo Gallery
  • Simple Ecommerce

Example Two

Complex

  • All of the Previous Items
  • Customized Ordering System
  • Seamless Integration with 3rd Party Services
  • Robust eCommerce
  • Functionality Involving User Management
  • Anything else you can dream up

Hosted Service Solutions

Hosted Service Solutions

Pros

  • Cost: $0 - $30/month
  • Hosting is provided by the service
  • eCommerce is provided by the service
  • Do it all yourself

Hosted Service Solutions

Cons

  • Limited Number of Themes
  • Limited Functionality
  • If used as a Phase One, need to start over
  • Do it all yourself

Custom Solutions

Pros

  • Design freedom
  • Sky's the limit on Functionality
  • Create the exact site you want

Custom Solutions

Cons

  • Cost: $2K and up
  • Need to purchase hosting
  • More decisions to make
  • The wrong team can do a bad job

Choosing a Host

A host is the company that maintains the server your site lives on. A good host is crucial to a stable, fast and secure website.

Choosing a Host

  • Shared Hosting: Site occupies a server with hundreds of other sites
  • Dedicated Hosting: Site occupies a single server by itself
  • Cloud Hosting: Site is given space and resources as needed
  • Managed Hosting: Site is fine tuned for the technology it's using

Choosing a Team

If you need a custom-built site, the developers you choose are integral to your web success.

Choosing a Team

  • Ask friends and colleagues
  • Find out who developed sites you like
  • Google with caution
  • Avoid Freelancers with no proven track record (aka your sister-in-law's friend's cousin)

Vetting a Company

  • Read through their website and portfolio
  • Check out their social profiles
  • Get references and talk to them
  • See if they contribute back to the technology they use
  • Ask if they develop in-house or use 3rd party solutions

During the Proposal Process

  • Did they ask you insightful questions?
  • Did they throughly understand your organization and project?
  • Do they offer solutions to solve your problems?
  • Do they include a CMS (Content Management System)?
  • Do they put standards in place for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?
  • Are they realistic on price and timeline?

Making the Decision

  • Don't make a choice only based on price.
  • Do they offer a dedicated project manager?
  • Do they offer support after the site is launched?
  • Are they realistic on price and timeline?

Phase Three

Site Build

Discovery

  • Make sure all the decision makers are at the kickoff meeting
  • Organize your thoughts ahead of time
  • Be as clear as possible

Development

  • Identify your project manager
  • Get a timeline of milestones and reports
  • Find out the best way to communicate with the team
  • Get the address of the development environment

Making it to Launch

  • Keep up with your tasks
  • Trust your web developers, but speak up for things you really want
  • Make sure all decision makers have signed off on completed elements
  • Don't let "perfect" sabotage great

Phase Four

Site Launch and Beyond

The Big Day

  • What is the process of going from dev to live?
  • Will there be downtime?
  • Will this affect email service?
  • Should work on the site stop until the site is live?
  • Stay Calm: DNS Propagation takes time

Immediately After

  • Add redirects from old site addresses to new ones to preserve search engine ranking
  • Add Google Analytics to site to track statistics
  • Add site to Google Webmaster Tools (Search Console) to aid with Google indexing
  • Celebrate!

Moving Forward

  • What is the development company's policy on bugfixes?
  • Do they provide training on content management?
  • What is in place for organic SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?
  • Do they offer maintenance and monitoring?
  • What is the process for new work orders?

Moving Forward

  • Keep content fresh and up to date
  • Make sure things are kept in tune under the hood
  • Make an online marketing plan
  • Tie your site to social media efforts
  • Listen to your visitors
  • Keep a running list for Phase 2

Thank You!

Tracy Levesque

Co-owner & Co-founder of YIKES, Inc.

yikesinc.com / tracy@yikesinc.com / @yikesinc / @liljimmi